Report Thai Restaurant Accuses Foreign Couple of Menu Theft for Copycat Plans

[snoop1130]

Photo via Facebook/ ก่ทอง ออริจินัล - Kaithong Original

 

A foreign couple has landed in hot water after allegedly stealing two menu books from the renowned Kaithong Original restaurant in Bangkok's Central Embassy shopping mall. The incident, which occurred on 29 April, was brought to light when Kaithong shared CCTV snapshots on their official social media page detailing the alleged pilfering.

 

According to the footage, the man in a grey T-shirt was seen photographing menu items and tableware, while his female companion discreetly slipped two menu books into her bag. Further investigation by the restaurant staff, using payment details, unveiled that the man operates Thai restaurants in Indonesia under various brand names.

 

In response, Kaithong Original has lodged a police report and plans to pursue legal action. The restaurant expressed its dismay over the violation of professional ethics, emphasizing the seriousness of the act, especially considering that their menu is readily available online as a downloadable PDF. This gesture underscores their belief that the theft was a deliberate attempt to infringe on the intellectual property rights of Kaithong Original.

 

The incident sparked reactions on social media, with Thai netizens discussing the broader issue of imitation branding in Indonesia. One user highlighted similar infringements, noting "Multiple brands in Indonesia copied Thai brands, and ChaTraMue is one of them."

 

ChaTraMue, a well-known Thai tea manufacturer, reportedly deals with imitation issues abroad, illustrating a pervasive challenge for Thai brands in international markets.

 

Netizens reacted with a mix of ridicule and disbelief, with comments pointing out the futility of the theft given the menu's online availability. Others humorously speculated about the couple's next move, joking about the potential launch of 'Kai-ngen Original,' a play on words suggesting a knockoff brand as 'golden chicken' (Kaithong) becomes 'silver chicken' (Kai-ngen).

 

The incident has put a spotlight on intellectual property concerns in the restaurant industry, emphasizing the importance of respecting culinary creations and brand integrity across borders. Kaithong Original's firm stance serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle against brand imitation and the measures businesses must take to protect their creative assets.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-05-05

 

 

[still kicking]

Who wants to eat crappy Thai food?

[Nick Carter icp]

2 minutes ago, still kicking said:

Who wants to eat crappy Thai food?

Many people in the World want to eat Thai food .

Its in the top ten of World cuisines 

[still kicking]

Just now, Nick Carter icp said:

Many people in the World want to eat Thai food .

Its in the top ten of World cuisines 

Every dish taste the same

[roo860]

7 minutes ago, still kicking said:

Who wants to eat crappy Thai food?

Thai people, probably. 

[kwak250]

3 minutes ago, still kicking said:

Every dish taste the same

That's like saying doing a ladyboy is the same as a women

[FlorC]

Camera's above your table ?

Hope they don't copy that.

[josephbloggs]

3 minutes ago, still kicking said:

Every dish taste the same

What utter nonsense.

Is your whole experience of Thai food limited to fried rice with pork or chicken? Admittedly they do taste quite similar.

[still kicking]

1 minute ago, roo860 said:

Thai people, probably. 

Now I live in a city of 2 million, all Thai restaurants are empty but Chinese or Indian restaurants are packed why is this?

[JackGats]

They didn't have any copy cats plans. They stole the menu because of its hilarious English translations.

[Harrisfan]

2 minutes ago, still kicking said:

Now I live in a city of 2 million, all Thai restaurants are empty but Chinese or Indian restaurants are packed why is this?

Bs 

 

Green curry tastes the same as tom yum goong 

[EVENKEEL]

14 minutes ago, still kicking said:

Now I live in a city of 2 million, all Thai restaurants are empty but Chinese or Indian restaurants are packed why is this?

Probably because Thai restaurants tend to be more expensive. Why? They just are.

[fredwiggy]

31 minutes ago, still kicking said:

Every dish taste the same

Are you perhaps a smoker? People who smoke lose quite a bit of tasting ability. It damages nerve endings and taste buds. There are quite a few differemt Thai foods, and they definitely do not all taste the same. They mostly all use rice, but that's supposed to be a side anyway.

[still kicking]

7 minutes ago, EVENKEEL said:

Probably because Thai restaurants tend to be more expensive. Why? They just are.

My Thai wife of 22 years only cooks Western food as well

[still kicking]

Just now, fredwiggy said:

Are you perhaps a smoker? People who smoke lose quite a bit of tasting ability. It damages nerve endings and taste buds. There are quite a few differemt Thai foods, and they definitely do not all taste the same. They mostly all use rice, but that's supposed to be a side anyway.

No I dont smoke

[fredwiggy]

2 minutes ago, still kicking said:

No I dont smoke

Heavy drinking can also do the same. Some medications can also.

[Harrisfan]

2 minutes ago, still kicking said:

My Thai wife of 22 years only cooks Western food as well

She must be desperate

[fredwiggy]

29 minutes ago, still kicking said:

Now I live in a city of 2 million, all Thai restaurants are empty but Chinese or Indian restaurants are packed why is this?

If you live in Thailand, people here eat Thai food every day, and a change is a good thing. You see locals eating every kind of western food here, although most of their diet is still Thai.

[tomazbodner]

57 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

ChaTraMue, a well-known Thai tea manufacturer, reportedly deals with imitation issues abroad, illustrating a pervasive challenge for Thai brands in international markets.

I see copies of my company's products widely available in Thailand. Heck they even print our logo on complete crap and claim it's from us. So while I understand their pain, this is not a Thailand-only problem, it's a global challenge, one where Thais play on both sides.

[LespaulAN]

Just saying I don't like "something" instead of saying "something" is crap can avoid topic descend into argument in so many online discussion.

[grain]

28 minutes ago, JackGats said:

They didn't have any copy cats plans. They stole the menu because of its hilarious English translations.

Like Fried Rice with Crap

How about

Crap Fried with Whore Dust

 

[josephbloggs]

2 minutes ago, LespaulAN said:

Just saying I don't like "something" instead of saying "something" is crap can avoid topic descend into argument in so many online discussion.

Spot on.

"I don't like Thai food" would get zero replies as it is a personal opinion. But maybe that's the point - he likes the attention that coming out with a stupid statement generates.

[richard_smith237]

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

The restaurant expressed its dismay over the violation of professional ethics, emphasizing the seriousness of the act, especially considering that their menu is readily available online as a downloadable PDF. This gesture underscores their belief that the theft was a deliberate attempt to infringe on the intellectual property rights of Kaithong Original.

 

Very odd....  I don't see how they (the couple) can be seen as infringing on copyrights as the menu is online... 

 

Nevertheless, its still theft and it doesn't matter if its 10,000 baht ornament / decoration, a fork, or a menu - its still theft....

 

But... actually steeling a menu is just 'incredibly odd' - what an extremely strange couple to do such a thing.

 

 

[richard_smith237]

1 minute ago, josephbloggs said:

But maybe that's the point - he likes the attention that coming out with a stupid statement generates.

 

Exactly that - just a dumb troll... not even worth replying too... Much like the dumb single one liners from many trollish forum members lately...   they just write one stupid comment of no value whatsoever, but designed to trigger a response...    its usually the same uneducated nitwits... 

[blaze master]

46 minutes ago, kwak250 said:

That's like saying doing a ladyboy is the same as a women

 

You know what a ladyboy tastes like eh ?

[blaze master]

108 Lawson convenience store. 

[safarimike11]

1 hour ago, still kicking said:

Who wants to eat crappy Thai food?

Bet you thought it was smart skiving off school the day they handed the brains out?

[Jingthing]

Not sure how what Thai restaurants do in Indonesia threatens them unless they're competing in Indonesia.

I've been "guilty" of photographing many a menu in my time but never for commercial purposes. 

[safarimike11]

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

Photo via Facebook/ ก่ทอง ออริจินัล - Kaithong Original

 

A foreign couple has landed in hot water after allegedly stealing two menu books from the renowned Kaithong Original restaurant in Bangkok's Central Embassy shopping mall. The incident, which occurred on 29 April, was brought to light when Kaithong shared CCTV snapshots on their official social media page detailing the alleged pilfering.

 

According to the footage, the man in a grey T-shirt was seen photographing menu items and tableware, while his female companion discreetly slipped two menu books into her bag. Further investigation by the restaurant staff, using payment details, unveiled that the man operates Thai restaurants in Indonesia under various brand names.

 

In response, Kaithong Original has lodged a police report and plans to pursue legal action. The restaurant expressed its dismay over the violation of professional ethics, emphasizing the seriousness of the act, especially considering that their menu is readily available online as a downloadable PDF. This gesture underscores their belief that the theft was a deliberate attempt to infringe on the intellectual property rights of Kaithong Original.

 

The incident sparked reactions on social media, with Thai netizens discussing the broader issue of imitation branding in Indonesia. One user highlighted similar infringements, noting "Multiple brands in Indonesia copied Thai brands, and ChaTraMue is one of them."

 

ChaTraMue, a well-known Thai tea manufacturer, reportedly deals with imitation issues abroad, illustrating a pervasive challenge for Thai brands in international markets.

 

Netizens reacted with a mix of ridicule and disbelief, with comments pointing out the futility of the theft given the menu's online availability. Others humorously speculated about the couple's next move, joking about the potential launch of 'Kai-ngen Original,' a play on words suggesting a knockoff brand as 'golden chicken' (Kaithong) becomes 'silver chicken' (Kai-ngen).

 

The incident has put a spotlight on intellectual property concerns in the restaurant industry, emphasizing the importance of respecting culinary creations and brand integrity across borders. Kaithong Original's firm stance serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle against brand imitation and the measures businesses must take to protect their creative assets.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-05-05

 

 

Reminds me of when I bought an Indonesian "747" cassette tape rip-off of Rumours by "Fleetwood Mat" in Saudi in 1984...

[BKKKevin]

13 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Not sure how what Thai restaurants do in Indonesia threatens them unless they're competing in Indonesia.

 

Exactly...

Why are they getting thier nickers in a twist?...

Isn't the classic Thai business model it to copy and sell exactly what your neighbor is selling?...